John passed away peacefully at home following a short illness.
John was born at Mount Pleasant Farm, Walton in Warwickshire on April 7th 1932. His parents William and Mary had moved to Mount Pleasant from Ladbroke, also in Warwickshire, in 1927 and the family still farm it today. He had one brother, Robert who lives in Tysoe.
Horses, farming and hunting were Johns life. From a young age alongside his father and Robert he started showing. The family were very successful breeding thoroughbreds and hunters for both the Racecourse and the show-ring. The ‘Pleasant Fancy’ and ‘Miss Rattle’ lines produced the families best show horses, winning at numerous county shows. In 1956 Pleasant Fancy won six midlands shows in three months, including the championship at The Royal Show.
A racing career was started on ponies, then progressed to point-to-pointing and hunter-chasing. Longmire, Jinky Bell and Hastener were some of his better known horses and Hastener won the 1953 Coronation Cup at the Hertfordshire point-to-point. Fellow jockeys during this time were John Thorne, Denny Green, Ted Edgar, Henry Hutsby, John Jordan and David Tatlow.
The racing successes also came on the flat, Tecyllyn was a three-time winner and produced some fascinating off-spring once retired. One of these was Blaslynn who won the Abernethy Stakes and the William Hill Vase over five furlongs at Bevereley and held that record for numerous years. Blaslynn’s half-brother, Crystal Glazer, owned by Colin Gee, and who David Nicholson trained won over three miles. Other multiple winners on the NH circuit were Spartella and Woodlands Genpower.
In the 1980’s son Andrew had aspirations to race-ride and enjoyed success aboard Cuban Skies, Dixons Homefinder and Wind & Stars. The horses were all trained around the farm with visits to Brean sands on occasion as part of the regime. Once Andrew retired John continued to train and over the years Michael and Richard Mann, Charlie Wadland, Lawrence Lay, then latterly Hannah Mahon and Claire Hart took over the reins.
Alongside the racing and point-to-pointing, hunting was a winter sport John was very involved in. In the early 1980’s he became joint-master of the Warwickshire and for many seasons hunted three days per week. His involvement in farming meant he was well-known in the area and this meant he formed good relationships within the community to gain access to country. Whilst John hunted his racehorses, through life-long friend David Tatlow who sourced him some wonderful hunters which then allowed him to lead the field fearlessly across some of Warwickshire’s finest country.
During the summer months show judging was a large part of his life. Whether it was in-hand, ridden or hunters John became known for his fairness. Highlights include HOYS, RIHS and Royal Dublin. Showing and racing aligned more so in recent years when Catch Tammy, John’s last point-to-pointer/hunter-chaser went showing in his retirement and he travelled all over the country with daughter-in-law Ilona sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm.
Farming was something he loved; going to markets to buy and sell and enjoyed the camaraderie amongst fellow farmers and neighbours. Farming and hard work go hand in hand and that was something John didn’t fear, like many, milking the cows and doing a days work before going hunting or racing was the normal.
When Ilona set up The Stratford Racecourse Racing Club John took great interest, several of the horses are trained locally by Charlie Longsdon at Chipping Norton. John was a big fan of jockey Paul O’Brien and followed his career and daily rides closely. Jamacho, the first horse purchased by the club went on to win twelve races and has now retired to the farm and become an RoR ambassador. It is most fitting that Book of Tales, the club’s fourth horse, whom he watched to finish second at Doncaster in his colours the day he died.
John met Audrey whilst at school in Chipping Campden and following courtship they married on 30th August 1958. They settled at Fossebury farm and have three children; Caroline. Anneli and Andrew. He lived at the farm all of his life latterly with son Andrew and his family; Ilona and Archie. He lost his beloved Audrey last year. He is survived by Caroline, her children; Tom, Bryony and Charlie and great grandchildren Jaxon, Jacob and Grace. Anneli and her children Rosie, Coral and Isobel and great grandchildren; Finn, Beatrice, Darcy, Arlo and Albie. Andrew and his son Archie.
Johns funeral will take place on Thursday January 23rd at Pillerton Hersey church, Warwickshire at 11 am.